The Opinion of Parents Regarding the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs in an Educational Group

U današnje se vrijeme sve više susrećemo s pojmom inkluzije u svim životnim aspektima, a važnost uključivanja osoba s teškoćama u razvoju postaje sve zastupljenija tema u društvu. Poticanje inkluzije i integracije osoba s teškoćama u razvoju postaje važan dio svakodnevice s ciljem da se takvim osobama omogući lakše funkcioniranje u društvu te im se pruže jednake mogućnosti za normalan život. Primarne osobe u životu svakog djeteta su naravno njegovi roditelji koji mu zajedno s odgojiteljima omogućuju da kroz socijalizaciju s ostalom djecom stvori poglede i razmišljanja te stavove koji će ga u budućnosti učiniti kompetentnim sudionikom društva. Ustanove predškolskog odgoja i obrazovanja prva su životna stepenica svakog djeteta te mjesto gdje i započinje sama ideja o inkluziji djece s teškoćama u razvoju. Kako bi inkluzija osoba s teškoćama u društvene redove bila još uspješnija, potrebno je djeci već u ranoj dobi usaditi važnost prihvaćanja različitosti te načine odnošenja prema istima. Uključivanje djece s teškoćama u razvoju u odgojnu skupinu ne tiče se samo djece koja ju pohađaju, već i njihovih roditelja koji svojim razmišljanjima i stavovima moraju biti podrška odgojitelju i cjelokupnoj inkluzivnoj praksi. Ovaj rad bavio se mišljenjima roditelja o uključivanju djeteta s teškoćama u odgojnu skupinu te njihovim stavovima o inkluziji koja se trenutno provodi u predškolskim ustanovama. Cilj je bio potvrditi pretpostavku da većina roditelja podupire inkluziju te samim time istražiti koliko su zapravo dobro roditelji informirani i upoznati sa samom inkluzivnom praksom. Provedeno je istraživanje među roditeljima djece triju predškolskih ustanova na području Međimurja. Istraživanje je uključivalo upitnik za roditelje koji se sastojao od ukupno 13 pitanja vezanih za njihovo viđenje uključivanja djeteta s teškoćama u odgojnu skupinu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da većina roditelja podržava inkluziju te smatra da ona pozitivno utječe na razvoj ostale djece u svim segmentima.Nowadays, we are more and more confronted with the concept of inclusion in all aspects of life, and the importance of involving people with disabilities is becoming more and more represented in society. Encouraging inclusion and integration of people with developing disabilities is becoming an important part of everyday life allowing such people to easily operate in society and providing them with equal opportunities for a normal life. Primary people in the life of every child are, of course, his parents who, together with the educators, allow him to create views, thoughts and attitudes through socialization with other children that will make him a competent participant of society in the future. Institutions of preschool education are the first step in life of every child and the place where the idea of incorporating children with disabilities begins. In order for the inclusion of people with social disabilities to be even more successful, the children should, at an early age, adopt the importance of accepting the diversity and the way they relate to them. Involvement of children with developmental difficulties in an educational group does not only apply to children who attend it, but also to parents who have their own thinking and attitudes, to support the educator and the overall inclusive practice. This paper deals with parents' views on inclusion of children with disabilities in the educational group and their attitudes about inclusion currently taking place in preschool institutions. The aim was to confirm the assumption that most parents support inclusion, to investigate how well parents are informed and acquainted with the inclusive practice itself. Research was conducted among parents of children of three pre-school institutions in Međimurje area. The research included the questionnaire for parents, which is consisted of 13 questions related to their views on inclusion of children with disabilities in the educational group. Research findings have shown that most parents support inclusion and believe that it has a positive impact on the development of other children in all segments